Effect of Heat Treatment on Cu Distribution, Antibacterial Performance and Cytotoxicity of Ti–6Al–4V–5Cu Alloy

A copper-bearing Ti–6Al–4V–5Cu alloy was processed and subjected to different heat treatments to explore the relationship among microstructure, antibacterial performance, and cytocompatibility. Characterization of microstructure revealed that the solution treated alloy consisted of α phase, α′ phase and β phase, while besides these phases, the aged alloy also contained the precipitations of intermetallic Ti2Cu compound. The solution treated alloy showed better antibacterial performance with increasing the solution temperature. The Cu ions released from Ti–6Al–4V–5Cu alloy could effectively inhibit the formation of bacterial biofilm on the surface of alloy, and do not induce any cytotoxicity. The optimal heat treatment for Ti–6Al–4V–5Cu alloy was solution treated at 930 °C, at which it could exhibit both promising antibacterial performance and no cytotoxicity.